Do you use a drying machine (dryer) at home?

Hi dear lkbooi. There are some mylotters told me that the dryer could still work even if it's placed up side down, and, I think it's true because it still works LoL. I am glad to know that your son bought a dryer for you and I think it could help to reduce the daily laundry load especially during rainy season. I would like to share an interesting story about the dryer. It happened after I bought the dryer for 1 year. I read the manual, in attempt to fix the problem because I found that the drying time needed is getting longer and longer. When it was brand new, the time needed to clean a 5 kg clothes is only 1 hour plus, but now it takes up to 3 hours to dry it! After an hour of 'exploration', I finally realized that the dryer is equipped with filters that needs periodical cleaning. From the filter vent I found a big round-shaded sponge. I was confused because it's not stated in the manual item list. Then I decided not to install it and see if the air circulation is getting better without the sponge. Months later, I opened the filter again, intending for another round of filter cleaning. To my surprise, I found another round-shaded sponge, with similar color and texture, but thinner in thickness compared to the first 'sponge'. Then only realize it's the compressed particles accumulated on the filter surface. LoL.

LoL. The dryer really help out a lot. Although we need to spend a little more electricity and expense on the dryer itself, but I think all of these worth the time we had saved on the laundry. That's right. I learned the lesson, and therefore I will be reading the manual instructions more carefully. It's partially because I am still new to dryer (this is my first dryer actually) and I need some time to get myself familiar with it. By the way, it's not bad to have a joke about the 'pan-cake' and laugh at it.

Hi dear cheongyc, I believe what they had told you are correct as we could see from your upside down dryer still could work. Yeah, I am really happy when I received the brand new dryer from him. It really could reduce the daily laundry load and this save me a lot of trouble and time, especially to hang them on the line and to collect them as well. It is extremely useful during rainy days and at the time when we are going for vacation. Or in occasion when we need immediate use of the laundry. It is interesting to learn that you had found a Nice and Beautiful big round Pancake from your filter vent. Well, it took almost a year to be well baked the fine pancake. Luckily my son told me how to clean the filter vent otherwise we would have to waste lots of electricity. He also pointed out to me that the instruction clearly displayed on the front casing. Happy posting and bye.

When I just use the washing machine, I have no idea on how much soap I need to use on the clothes. But after using the machine for some time, I could now estimate the quantity needed in order to make the clothes smell good and not wasting too much of the soap. It really depends on the clothes load and the material of the clothes. If possible, we should apply just enough for the cleaning, so to save the cost and also be environmental friendly.

That's a smart way to dry the clothes, because you could speed up the drying process and enjoy the fragrance of the fabric which is dried in the sun. Base on my experience, the clothes will become smelly if we put too little soap powder. If the soap powder is sufficient, the washing is perfect and it won't be smelly even though it is dried slowly. If possible I would like to have sun-drying in my apartment as well. So, sometimes, I just hang some of the clothes at the windows for some sun light exposure.

I agree that the amount of soap also affects the fragrance of the dried clothes. I sometimes use fabric conditioner to make my laundry more fragnant and soft but I have to stop using it when I had a new baby because she be sensitive to the chemicals.

My apartment is actually not spacious enough to house it as well. Therefore, I bought a compact one. It's about 3 feet tall, 3 feet wide and 1 foot thick only. Actually in our country, there is plentiful of sunlight out there, but in the confined space of my apartment, a dryer becomes a better solution. We have laundry (we called it dobi shop) as well, but it's much costly compared to using our own washing machine and dryer at home. However, it's not the type of DIY launderettees. I had used the lauderettee once when I was in Las Vegas. It was new experience for me because we don't have such facility here. Thanks for your response!

No, I can see your dilemma and indeed, such a compact dryer would be very helpful here, too, for the winter months. It's not expensive just to dry stuff in our launderette. I was them in my own washing machine, but sometimes can't get them dry, but it doesn't happen often. You're quite welcome, my friend.

I know. The launderette just cost me less than a dollar. I could recall the exact amount I fed into the slot. Just some coins, I suppose. It's a convenient way. Because if we take our clothes to the 'dobi shop' as I mentioned. We can only withdraw again on the following business day. If washing in the launderette, just about an hour will do. During my relocation in Oregon, the aparment was equipped with both washing machine and dryer. (partly of the reason why I fancy to buy one after I went back to here) and I do not need to visit the launderette in Hillsboro. I make use of the service because running out of linen when I was on a trip to Las Vegas.

It's so much different from here. People would like very much to dry the clothes by hanging them on the lines, rather than drying them using the dryer machine. I used the dryer because my balcony does not have direct sunlight, and I do not have much time taking care of my laundry due to work. I think if you apply enough detergent, then the clothes will smell good even if you dry it in the sun. Thanks for your response kelly3ps!

That's a good suggestion. But that is what I had been doing before I got my dryer The dryer that I bought actually is very cheap, it cost about $200. Actually the expensive worth it because I save a lot time and effort in drying the clothes. The electricity consumed is insignificant, because the I am living alone and the usage is not that high. Thus it would less likely to have impact on the environment.

You are right, renee. Dryer and many other electrical appliances had become so important in our life and it will be very 'miserable' without them. Sometimes, I wonder is it good or bad that we are so dependent on them. Hi elementamazing. I think we human are too dependent on the machines nowadays. You are lucky to have a dryer all this while after you are in America. Thanks for the response from both of you!

Yeah, even though I live in California, I can't imagine not having a dryer. We have always had one since we came to America in 1999.

If possible, I would like to have my clothes dried up in the sun as well. But I am living in an apartment unit, and I could hardly get the direct sun light. So, dryer would help me a lot. Besides, the advantage of using dryer is, save our time of hanging and collecting them. After heat-drying, you could iron them neatly without much effort :) Thanks for your sharing, have a nice day Nardz13.

I have been helping my mum to hang the clothes to line since very young. It's good to help with the chores because by doing so I could train my discipline while reduce the burden of our parents. But when I start working, it's become a burden to me, especially feeling exhausted after coming back from work everyday. With the dryer, we could do other stuff (bath, watch TV, sweeping the floor, cooking & etc) while your clothes are being dried by the dryer. (How sweet!) Besides, it help to save your problem of rushing to collect the clothes while raining LoL. Thanks for your interesting sharing quirkyjessi!

If my house is not equipped with dryer, as what it was 2 years back, I will hang the clothes on the lines in my side balcony. That place was confined and doesn't have direct sunlight. Therefore, it will take more time to dry, compared to hanging them in the sun. Actually when I was living in another apartment, before moving into the current one, I used to send my clothes to laundry room. We called it 'dobi shop' over here. That's because during that time, the unit was not equipped with any washing machine and I don't feel like washing the clothes at all. So, the best solution is to send them to be washed. I found that clothes dried using a dryer is having less wrinkle. Thanks for your sharing Moneyandgc!

That's a brilliant idea to save space. But a machine with washing and function combined is very costly here. Therefore, if I could spare some space, I would just buy both of them. The dryer is still uncommon, and that's why it is still expensive. But it will makes a different if it could be used to dry the clothes after washing. I had save much time and effort by drying the clothes with it.

That's it! Looking at the size of your family, you definitely need a washing machine and of course, a dryer. I couldn't imagine on managing the laundry load of a household of 7 without a dryer. Thanks for your reponse kerryjb4, and have a nice day!

You are right, the compact dryer that I bought really is a life saver, especially when I am busy. Besides, it just occupies little space and it is now sitting comfortably next to my washing machine in the side balcony. (my balcony is sheltered) It’s appearance did look like a washing machine. Those with a side opening for its horizontal tumbler. It’s capacity is rated as 5kg.

May be your laundry load is not that high, so it's still manageable and you don't really need a dryer. It's good for the environment actually. Besides, you could save on the electricity. Now I had become too dependent on the dryer, and I am not sure wether it's a good thing or a bad thing. Thanks for your response, Jody20.

Actually, I would like to have my clothes dried up in the sun. It’s the most environmental friendly and safest way. Because drying in the sun doesn’t require electricity and germs could be killed by the UV ray in the sun light. But in my situation, it’s less likely to happen. Because I am living in an area with dense population and the apartment unit that I am dwelling within, doesn’t have direct sun light. Therefore, the best way to dry up the clothes is using the dryer. Besides, it save my time of hanging and collecting the clothes. It’s also very much convenient and cheaper compared to sending the clothes to the laundry shop. Thanks for your response.

I see. Your apartment regulation is quite strict, but I think must got a reason for that and it's for mutual benefit. Thanks for sharing the hilarous experience of 'cool ironing'. I burst into laughter after reading it. I would like to share another experience of dryer as well. It happened after I had been using the dryer for 1 year. I read the manual again, in attempt to fix the problem because I found that the drying time needed is getting longer and longer. When it was brand new, the time needed to clean a 5 kg clothes is only 1 hour plus, but now it takes up to 3 hours to dry it. After one hour of 'exploration' in my dryer, I finally found out about the air filter that needs periodical cleaning. From the filter vent I found a big round-shaded sponge. I was wondering because there is no such accessories described in the manual item list. Then I decided not to install it and see if the air circulation is getting better without the sponge. Months later, I opened the filter again, intending for another round of service cleaning. To my surprise, I found another round-shaded sponge, but thinner in thickness compared to the first 'sponge'. Then only realize it's the compressed particles accumulated on the filter surface, and I laughed until my tears come out. LoL.

Ya, it's really funny but it is for real. I did put it up side down. The fun part is, it's still working lol. By the way, it's the horizontal tumbler type, with the cover on it's side, not on the top. I know that the dryer is pretty common in the country with cold wether. In tropical country, it's not so. The best way of drying clothes here is still hanging them with pegs in the sun LoL. It's much more cost effective because it's free. The reason I bought it is because I couldn't get direct and ample sunlight in my apartment.

My washing machine is just next to my dryer as well. You are right, it's very convenient for us to transfer washed clothes into the dryer, if two machines are adjacent to each other. The machines had helped us a lot, but as usuall, there are always some disadvantages comes together with the convenience that we enjoyed. My dryer is producing some degree of noice too, but still within acceptable level. A symphony of air blowing, water splashing and motor rotating will echo through the side balcony when both of them are operating together . Well hanging clothes outside of the window is basically not allowed by the management, but however, the enforcement is not so strict and thus people are violating the regulations. Now I can understand why the drying machines become a need in your area.

I use the dryer twice or thrice a week. Because I am living alone, and thus my laundry load is not that heavy LoL. Wow, that's a lot (6 in the family) and I can imagine how often you need to wash and dry your clothes. Since you are a heavy user, I think the electricity ultilized is compartively high as well. But if you judge from the time and effort saved by using the machines, it just worth it. Imagine you need to spend 3 hours perday on the laundry alone, you are going to spend 90 hours per month on washing your clothes. What a waste, right? For me, I would rather spend my time on cooking or reading books or watching TV or mylotting. I had slowly learned to careful with dryer over the time. Experience is the best teacher. Thanks for your response my friend!

Actually I think if space is not a constraint at your side, you should consider having a separate washing machine and dryer. In this way, you could double up the speed of processing your laundry. While drying the clothes, you can wash it at the same time. Since you have 7 members in your house, the machines play an important roll in cleaning the clothes efficiently. Otherwise, you will need to spend extended hours just to do the laundry alone. I glad to know that your kid is learning to do their own laundry. Through this way, they could learn to be independent.

The dryer is very important especially in winter. It's also equally important to those who stay in apartment with a confined balcony, where it's impossible to get direct sun light to dry the clothes. I can understand how fast the used cloths heap up with 2 kids in your family. And, that makes the dryer and washing become even more important to your household. Thanks for your response!